Red hot Nairobi City Thunder blow out Beira to punch BAL ticket

Thunder walked onto the floor with purpose and left no doubt about their continental ambitions.

From the opening whistle, their energy, ball movement, and defensive sharpness overwhelmed Beira, turning the semifinal into a one-sided showcase of Kenyan basketball supremacy.

Albert Odero was unstoppable, delivering a masterclass with 32 points on an absurd 12-of-14 shooting, torching Beira in transition and half-court sets. His efficiency and aggression set the tone, igniting the home crowd as Thunder raced ahead.

Inside the paint, Ater Majok dominated both ends with a near double-double: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks, erasing Beira’s attempts at the rim and orchestrating offense with veteran calmness. Lance Thomas added 15 points, while Eugene Adera controlled the pace brilliantly with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Captain Tylor Ongwae chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, expertly guiding the team through Beira’s defensive traps. Off the bench, David Deng dropped 11 points and 6 boards, giving Thunder high-energy minutes that stretched the lead beyond reach.

By halftime, Thunder had stamped their authority going to the interval leading 52-32. By the third quarter, they were simply unleashing a basketball clinic—attacking mismatches, shutting down shooting lanes, and  just pushing the scoreboard towards the century mark.

The Kasarani crowd sensed history and roared with every basket as Thunder closed out the victory, confirming their place among Africa’s elite.

On the other hand, 

Ferroviário da Beira entered the game with experience and pedigree but were outmatched from start to finish. Their offense never found rhythm, shooting 28.8% from the field and 5-of-28 from beyond the arc as Thunder’s physicality and defensive rotations suffocated them. Ismael Nurmamade led Beira with 13 points, showing brief flashes of control. Hassan Drame added another 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Ermelindo Novela fought with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals. But turnovers, rushed shots, and long scoring droughts doomed any chance of a comeback.

Thunder’s pressure was relentless, and the Mozambican side could not recover from the early onslaught.

Thunder’s Top Performers

Albert Odero – 32 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL

Ater Majok – 13 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 4 BLK

Lance Thomas – 15 PTS, 4 REB

Eugene Adera – 14 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST

Tylor Ongwae – 10 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

David Deng – 11 PTS, 6 REB

Ferroviário da Beira – Key Stats

Ismael Nurmamade: 13 PTS, 6/10 FG

Hassan Drame: 13 PTS, 7 REB

Ermelindo Novela: 9 PTS, 6 REB, 3 STL

When the buzzer sounded, Thunder didn’t just win—they announced themselves. Kenya is officially headed back to the Basketball Africa League.

Thunder stormed their way there with authority, unity, and a brand of basketball that electrified Kasarani and sent a message across the continent:

Kenya is back. Thunder are contenders. BAL 2026 Awaits.